Toddler Thursday: Potty time! Excellent?
It's Sarah K.K., back with another installment of Toddler Thursday ...
Yesterday, a box arrived at our house, and in it was a training potty. I don't really think I'm ready for this.
In fact, my husband and I hadn't really discussed a time frame for potty training, except for some vague notion of ... future. But lately, Isaac, who's 20 months old, has been acting interested by the idea, so, we figured, why not?
There is one boy in his class at day care who is starting the process, and I'm sure Isaac's noticed when he gets taken to the bathroom throughout the day. At home, he's taken an interest in the concept as well, declaring, "Bye-bye, pee-pee," whenever he hears a flush and occasionally indicating a desire to sit (fully clothed) on the (closed) toilet.
So: We have a potty. The current plan is to take it slow, follow his cues and just get him -- and us -- used to the idea. For now, that involves having him sit on it before bathtime and taking it from there. I'd be interested in hearing your experiences with training, and any suggestions, too.
On my way out of day care this morning, one of his teachers stopped to tell me a little story. He'd been on a walk with another teacher, and she was using "Red Light, Green Light" to get them to go and stop as needed. Teacher said, "Red Light," but Isaac wanted to keep on walking, so he looked back at her and said, "Green Light!"
I guess the lesson of the week is, when he wants to go, he wants to go. I suppose this means his dad and I better get with the program!
Comments
Wow, potty training... so far my son's only interest in the toilet is opening it and threatening to throw my hairbrush in. Going with Isaac's cues sounds like a good plan; he seems to know what he's doing!
SKK: I'm still surprised. I'm thinking either it's a fluke, or he has been really influenced by the kid in his class (who was probably influenced by his big brother). We'll see.
Posted by: Betsy | March 4, 2010 3:08 PM
SKK, I think you should seize this opportunity to use peer pressure to move Isaac along in his potty-training. My younger son was in daycare with one other toddler boy about the same age. When I brought over a spare potty for the daycare, the provider told me that all that day she heard "MY TURN potty chair!" "No, my turn!"
SKK: Ha! That's hilarious. Well, we might give it at least a couple of days at home first. But peer pressure totally worked for getting rid of bottles and switching to sippy cups, but that's a post for another day.
Posted by: Dahlink | March 4, 2010 4:25 PM
I have a soon to be 3 yr old. I was told to let him run around naked and remind him every 15 to 30 minutes for him to sit on the pot. I did and it worked great......except that he doesnt poop in the pot at all. He will pee all day with no problem. I dont even have to remind him to go pee in the pot. But this pooping thing is driving me crazy. I have tried everything and just simply have giving up the hope of not having to buy pull ups anymore. You kid will do what he wants. When he is ready, he will go. All you have to do is show him the ropes.
Posted by: Ativa Young | March 4, 2010 6:29 PM
Ativa, we had a similar experience with our older son. He would just get busy playing and not want to switch gears. What finally worked for us was an old-fashioned sticker chart with incentives that he really got excited about.
Appropriate Captcha: plumbed the
Posted by: Dahlink | March 5, 2010 6:55 AM